Lynyrd Skynyrd progeny deliver a winner by revving up
their Skynyrd side

Prospects were poor for what turns out to be an overflowing song
bag of an album by Lynyrd Skynyrd's arty nephews. Their last winner
was 2004's The Dirty South, preceded by two others in close
succession but followed by the disoriented A Blessing and a
Curse and then the loss of tenor-songwriter Jason Isbell. Welcome
though her gender bend is, bassist and Isbell ex Shonna Tucker doesn't
compensate by writing and singing. But Mike Cooley is on his game --
the pro-bad-girl "Lisa's Birthday" and pro-weird-guy "Bob" shoot
exceptionally straight. And knowing he has to carry the team,
Patterson Hood executes -- scene-setters about domestic life as
celestial respite, endless struggle and occasion to drink; dark-siders
about crystal meth (named) and suicide (implied); memoir of an opening
act on the road; and two agonizing Iraq songs, one of which sinks
pained voice into guitar attack, strength against strength. You could
argue that the Truckers should have revved up this Skynyrd side more
often. But instead they let the songwriting speak for itself, and it
sings loud and clear.